The path toward improving the world begins when you become a change-maker in your own life. Our advanced trainings range from comprehensive certifications to in-depth certificate programs, which can help you change careers or offer new support and services in your existing practice. Check us out.

The New York Open Center offers a comprehensive suite of wellness services. Individual sessions are available in more than 15 modalities, from classic techniques to deep spiritual healing. All sessions are offered by professional, licensed practitioners, as required, in a soothing, nurturing environment.

Grieving through the Holidays: A Compassionate Circle

Holidays! It takes a lot of effort to be cheerful when we are feeling sad, and the presence of grief roars or whispers. How will we manage our emotions? The compassionate circle is for anyone who is anxious or worried about how to move through the holiday season when feelings of loss are present.

In our circle we will:

Honor old traditions and explore what is meaningful now

Give ourselves permission to experiment with approaching the holidays differently

Grieving is hard and the holidays can sometimes feel less of a celebration and more of an emotional maneuver. In our time together, we will learn some potent methods to be present in our grief, including permission to walk away when we need to. We welcome you into the supportive sanctuary of the compassionate circle.

Claudia Coenen is a certified grief counselor in private practice at The Karuna Project in Hudson, New York. She presents workshops on grief processing, fear, and uncertainty in complex situations and vicarious trauma in the workplace. Claudia is a fellow in thanatology through the Association of Death Education and Counseling and holds a Masters in transpersonal psychology, with a focus on creativity and innovation.

Claudia utilizes expressive therapy techniques with her clients, to assist them in discovering a sense of wholeness after loss. She believes that creativity and personal forms of expression such as writing, storytelling, art modalities, collage, and movement can deepen the grief experience. Her life as a performer, musician, dancer, choreographer, and writer informs her work.

Claudia is the author of Shattered by Grief: Picking up the pieces to become WHOLE again, and the Karuna Cards, a deck of creative prompts for grief and difficult life transitions. Her new book (in process) is a creative grief toolkit, and includes activity sheets that practitioners will be able to use with their own clients.

Including the Open Center in your will or trust leaves a lasting legacy, impacting generations of spiritual seekers for decades to come.

To include the Open Center in your will or trust, use the wording below as an amendment (codocil) to your will or living trust.

Specific Dollar Amount
“I give, devise, and bequeath to the New York Open Center (tax ID 13-3152374; located at 22 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016) $________.”

Residuary or Percentage
“I give, devise, and bequeath to the New York Open Center (tax ID 13-3152374; located at 22 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016) all the residue of my estate (or ___% of the residue of my estate).”

Contact us directly with questions, and to discuss planned giving opportunities.

Gifts in Honor or Memory

Honor those you love with a gift that creates a peaceful and more centered world. We will send them a notification of your gift, with your custom message.